Arteta focused on process as Arsenal top the premier league table ahead of Wolves test
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta delivered a pragmatic, detailed briefing ahead of Wednesday's trip to Wolves (ET), offering visibility on fitness, the title race and an unexpected area of concern: matchday warm-ups. The manager reiterated confidence in the squad’s preparation while underlining how fine margins and late fitness issues have forced fresh thinking.
Fitness picture: short-term hope, cautious optimism
Arteta confirmed Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White were back in training and have a chance to feature at Molineux on Wednesday (ET), easing immediate selection headaches. Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz, however, are not expected to be fit for the midweek match, with the manager hopeful both could be available for Sunday’s game (ET).
On individual updates, Arteta described Calafiori as feeling better after recent discomfort, and said White’s withdrawal late in the cup tie was down to fatigue and a tight hamstring rather than a new injury. The coach emphasised the short turnaround this week — a midweek game followed by another on Sunday — and how that schedule influences recovery and selection decisions.
Title race: confidence comes from daily standards
With Arsenal sitting atop the premier league table by four points, Arteta framed the club’s position as the product of sustained daily work rather than momentary form. He stressed that his confidence in the team is earned by what he sees day-to-day: preparation, attitude and consistency across competitions.
While acknowledging historical benchmarks set by rivals who have won the title before, the manager insisted his focus stays on present demands — how his team needs to perform tomorrow against a stubborn Wolves side. He paid respect to Wolves’ resilience under their manager and warned the match will be a tough test that requires the squad to execute its game model with purpose and belief.
Warm-up rethink after a run of late fitness scares
One of the more notable strands of the briefing was Arteta’s disclosure that the club is reassessing pre-match warm-up routines. A recent spate of players suffering problems just before kick-off — incidents that have affected several key contributors at different moments this season — has prompted the coaching staff to examine whether traditional warm-ups might need adapting.
Arteta outlined how the unpredictable nature of those incidents has heightened caution in the build-up to games. He described warm-ups as a ritual that tells the body ‘it is coming, ’ but added that changing that routine is being considered, even if it is tricky. The manager posed a practical question to his staff: what would happen if the conventional warm-up was altered or shortened, given that players then sit for half-time and need to find intensity again later in the match? The discussion is framed as a search for marginal gains and injury prevention rather than a wholesale philosophical shift.
Overall, the presser was a balance of confidence and caution. Arteta remains buoyed by what his squad has achieved over a sustained period, but the minutes before kick-off and the quick succession of fixtures this week ensure the margins for error are smaller than ever. The immediate attention now turns to executing that preparation at Wolves and preserving the lead atop the premier league table over a testing run of fixtures.
